VALDOSTA – Two men and a 12-year-old juvenile was arrested by VPD for discharging of a firearm after reports of gunfire by numerous citizens.
Release:
Arrested 1: Howard McArthur, African American male, 20 years of age, Valdosta resident
Arrested 2: LC Strawder, African American male 17 years of age, Valdosta resident
Arrested 3: Juvenile male, 12 years of age, Valdosta resident
On February 26, 2024, at approximately 6:30 pm., Valdosta Police Officers responded to Ora Lee West Homes, in the 600 block of East Ann Street, after numerous citizens called E911 to report that subjects were shooting guns off near an apartment. As officers arrived at the scene, they stopped several subjects, but one ran from the area. Officers gave a detailed description of the subject who ran, and he was located by other officers who responded to the scene.
Through investigation, officers identified that Howard McArthur, 20 years of age, along with a 12-year-old male juvenile, had been shooting the guns in front of an apartment. During a search of one of the apartments, officers recovered a handgun and an assault rifle. Officers searched the area where the 12-year-old was apprehended and a third handgun was located, which had been reported stolen.
Officers took McArthur into custody without incident. While attempting to arrest the 12-year-old, he began to resist officers physically. After a brief struggle, he was taken into custody. As officers were attempting to arrest the 12-year-old juvenile, LC Strawder, 17 years of age, began yelling and cursing at officers, while children were in the area. Strawder was then taken into custody.
McArthur was transported to Lowndes County Jail, and he has been charged with:
- Reckless conduct-misdemeanor;
- Discharging of a firearm within 50 yards of a public highway-misdemeanor; and
- Contributing to the delinquency of a minor-misdemeanor.
Strawder was transported to Lowndes County Jail, and he has been charged with:
- Disorderly conduct-misdemeanor; and
- Possession of tobacco products by a minor-misdemeanor.
The Department of Juvenile Justice was contacted and authorized the detention of the 12-year-old for:
- Possession of stolen property-felony;
- Obstruction of an officer;
- Possession of a firearm by a minor-misdemeanor;
- Reckless conduct-misdemeanor; and
- Discharging of a firearm within 50 yards of a public highway-misdemeanor.
The juvenile was turned over to a Regional Youth Detention Center.
“Due to the time of day when this incident occurred, children were playing outside, and people were coming home from work.
We are lucky that these reckless actions did not injure anyone. Not only is it disturbing we had a 12-year old shooting a gun off, but then as they lawfully arrested him, he tried to physically fight our officers.” Said Chief Leslie Manahan.
